Title
Friendship Talk as Identity Work: Defining the Self Through Friend Relationships
Abbreviated Journal Title
Symb. Interact.
Keywords
identity work; friendship; emerging adulthood; narrative self-identity; othering; INTERACTIONIST ANALYSIS; CONSTRUCTION; DISCOURSE; HOMELESS; COLLEGE; SUPPORT; Sociology
Abstract
This paper places friendships at the center of individuals' identity work, examining how individuals construct self-identities through their talk about friend relationships and networks. We conceptualize this friendship talk as a subcategory of identity talk. From interviews with emerging adults, we find three strategies of friendship talk: envisioning self through others, betterment distancing, and situating with networks. These strategies demonstrate unique ways identity construction occurs through talk about friends. Individuals verbally connect with and separate from friends while constructing desired selves and moral identities. We suggest that friendship talk strategies may be generic social processes that apply beyond emerging adulthood.
Journal Title
Symbolic Interaction
Volume
38
Issue/Number
1
Publication Date
1-1-2015
Document Type
Article
DOI Link
Language
English
First Page
64
Last Page
82
WOS Identifier
ISSN
0195-6086
Recommended Citation
"Friendship Talk as Identity Work: Defining the Self Through Friend Relationships" (2015). Faculty Bibliography 2010s. 6398.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/facultybib2010/6398
Comments
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